After months of changes, Montgomery County commissioners Tuesday approved a new rules of procedure, conduct and decorum for future court meetings.

In recent months, County Judge Craig Doyal altered when people can speak to the court. The public comment has been both at the beginning and end of the meeting, then split to allow those addressing agenda items to speak at the beginning of the meeting, with all others whose comments do not pertain to the agenda forced to wait until the end of the meeting; and, at one time, Doyal was directing citizens to speak throughout the meeting immediately before the court agenda item which the citizen wanted to address.

The public comment portion of the Commissioners Court meetings came to a head in April when Doyal had Precinct 50 Chairman Reagan Reed who tried to speak during public comment removed from the Commissioners Court meeting for approaching the podium without being recognized.

According to the new procedure, anyone wishing to speak to the court must register to speak and provide any supporting documents before 9:15 a.m. in the county judge’s office. Commissioners court meetings begin at 9:30 a.m.

The policy also states that anyone who wishes to address an item on the court’s agenda will have three minutes at the beginning of the agenda. Those who have topics not addressed on the agenda will have three minutes at the end of the meeting.

Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack asked the court to include “elected officials” in the statement “neither is it the intention of the Court to allow members of the public to insult the honesty and/or integrity of the Court, as a body, or members of the Court (individually or collectively)”

“I think the same rules should apply to elected officials,” Noack said. “We should hold everybody to the same standard.”

Doyal agreed.

“I have changed the rules a few times trying to make it more efficient and effective for the court and the people,” Doyal said. “I want this to be a respectful courtroom … .”